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Explanations
Uses Transitive and intransitive verbs
Only verbs with an object (transitive verbs) can be made passive.
They sent the letter. The letter was sent.
They arrived late. (cannot be made passive)
Verbs with both direct and indirect objects can be made passive in two ways
They sent me the letter. I was sent the letter.
The letter was sent to me.
Some transitive verbs cannot be made passive in some uses. For example like
and love.
I like this place. (a passive form of this sentence is not possible)
The passive is used in a variety of contexts. Notice how the agent (person
who does the action) is unimportant, unknown or clear from the situation,
Impersonal statements Students are asked not to smoke.
When the agent is unknown My bike has been stolen!
(Here we could say Someone/They have stolen my bike. )
When the agent is obvious Mr Jones will be arrested.
How something was done The box was opened with a knife.
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Reporting verbs The passive is often used with say, believe, understand, know and similar verbs
used in reporting speech to avoid an impersonal they or people.
People say that John Wilson lives in New York.
John Wilson is said to live in New York.
Have/Get When someone does some work for us, we can use have something done.
something done Last year I had new tiles put on the roof.
I'm having my hair cut this afternoon.
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GRAMMAR 9 PASSIVES
Needs doing This is an idiomatic way of expressing a passive sentence where a thing or
person needs some kind of action.
The floor is fifthy. It needs to be cleaned.
The floor is filthy. It needs cleaning.
Verbs and The preposition stays with the verb in a passive sentence.
prepositions People shouted at the Prime Minister during his speech.
The Prime Minister was shouted at during his speech.
Other problems Be born is a passive form but does not have an obvious passive meaning.
I was born near Kyoto.
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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E
a) I'm sorry, madam, but this carpet (already sell) .has already been sold....
b) The old house on the corner (knock down) last year.
c) When exactly (John give) his prize?
d) Most people agree that America (not discover) by
Christopher Columbus.
e) All complaints about products (deal with) by our
customer services department.
f) Police confirmed that the murder weapon (since discover)
in a nearby lake.
g) It (announce) yesterday that the government has
decided not to raise income tax.
h) Good news! I (ask) to take over as the new manager.
i) I don't believe that this play (write) by Shakespeare.
j) Ann really likes (invite) to dinner parties.
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GRAMMAR 9 PASSIVES
4 Rewrite each sentence, putting the verb in italics in the passive where possible.
Do you need to mention the agent?
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FIRST CERTIFICATE L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E
5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the w o r d given. Do not change the w o r d given. You must use
between t w o and five words, including the word given.
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GRAMMAR 9 PASSIVES
6 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a form of have something done. Do not
include the agent.
f) The men are coming to put in the new central heating on Saturday.
7 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a passive f o r m , and does not contain
the words in italics.
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FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
8 Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a w o r d
which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a w o r d which
should not be there, write the word in the space.
Key p o i n t s 1 Not all verbs can be made passive. You can check in a dictionary whether the verb
is transitive or intransitive.
2 The agent is only included if this information is needed.
3 Passive forms are often used to give an impersonal view.
4 When we change from passive to active the meaning changes slightly. In
particular, the focus of interest changes. A passive form may be more suitable in
some contexts but unsuitable in others.
5 Passive forms tend to be used more often in writing, especially in scientific and
technical language.
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